November 22, 2004

Ryan Sager Rethinks Libertarianism

Writer Ryan Sager has been making a lot noise at Tech Central Station and elsewhere about the need for libertarians to become more "muscular" in their foreign policy proposals. I respond more generally to Sager's points in an L&P post: "Ryan Sager Rethinks Libertarianism." I also posted a comment to Ryan's blog here.

SOLO Discussions on Election 2004

A developing discussion, similar to the one that ensued at L&P some weeks ago, is now taking place at SOLO HQ on the topic of Election 2004, an outgrowth of my "I Told You So" article. On the growth of a socially conservative religious bloc of voters, I contribute additional thoughts here, here, and here.

November 21, 2004

I Told You So (Again)

In the upcoming December 2004-March 2005 issue of The Free Radical, a distillation of my views on Election 2004 will be published. SOLO HQ has posted it today on its website because it will be ancient history in the new year (much as it's ancient history already!) Nevertheless, if you'd like a little index of my various writings on Election 2004, take a look at my article: "I Told You So." And take a look at the follow-up discussion, in which I participate. Noted at L&P as well.

Song of the Day #73

Song of the Day: Heartbreaker, words and music by G. Gill and C. Wade, was recorded in typically fiery form by Pat Benatar. "Your love is like a tidal wave," and that's how this song feels ... with the volume way up. Listen to a clip at amazon.com.

November 08, 2004

Email Notification for "Not a Blog"

I've had a lot of traffic here, and a lot of private email asking me if I have "email notification" capacity, so that I might inform regular readers every time a new post goes up on "Not a Blog." Truth is, I've hesitated to send these notifications because not everybody is into the wide array of topics that I address here. And I don't want to be accused of spamming.

So, if you'd like to have your name added to an "email notification" list, please send me a formal request at my NYU address, which I render here as:

chris DOT sciabarra AT nyu DOT edu

I have not added a direct email link because I, myself, wish to avoid spiders-generating-spam. So replace that DOT with a . and that AT with a @

As a matter of policy, I won't send out my daily "Song of the Day" as a notification. You can rest assured that these little musical tidbits will be up here regularly. Looking forward to hearing from you.

Post-Election Discussions Continue

Check out the ongoing, and fascinating discussions at Liberty and Power Group Blog on the election. I've added one point this morning on the GOP strategy in Ohio, which brought together both Protestant and Catholic voters on social issues, thus aiding the President's capturing of that state's electoral votes. See, also, some additional reader exchanges on Reagan vs. Bush.

Song of the Day #71

Song of the Day: Armageddon It, composed by Steve Clark, Phil Collen, Joe Elliott, Mutt Lange, and Rick Savage, from the Def Leppard hard rock album Hysteria (check out that link for sample clip). Listen to it once, and hum the catchy chorus for days ...

November 06, 2004

Clarifying the Bush Victory: Understanding a Multi-Pronged Threat

I have had many public and private responses to my various post-election essays (including quite a bit of dialogue here). No electoral victory can be reduced to a single causal factor. But to minimize the evangelical vote, as some commentators are doing in response to an early media frenzy focusing on the religious bloc, is just plain wrong. I address this issue in my newest L&P essay: "Clarifying the Bush Victory: Understanding a Multi-Pronged Threat." And take a look at follow-up comments as well.

November 05, 2004

Post-Election Post-Mortem

I have a lot more to say about the election at Liberty and Power Group Blog. In a new post, I exclaim: "A Pox on Both Their Houses." My concern here is that there is no fundamental opposition to either the religious right or to the activist state that both Democrats and Republicans favor. (See follow-up comments here.)

I also have comments in response to various threads inspired by my "Declaring War on Religious Zealotry" post. On the issue of "Moderate Republicans," see here and here. With "thoughts on fundamentalism," and the relationship between libertarianism and cultural issues, see here. And a little discussion over what Irfan Khawaja calls "Garry Wills's Abject Hypocrisy," begins here.

I also weigh-in briefly at Washington Monthly, where Amy Sullivan guests for Kevin Drum's Political Animal, telling people to "Slow Down There," with regards to their view of the religious right's impact. See my comments here.

November 03, 2004

I Told You So

As for that other race, the one in which President George W. Bush won four more years? Aside from a brief mention at SOLO HQ, read my lengthier, if preliminary, post-election analysis at L&P: "I Told You So." A PDF is available here. And check out follow-up comments here at L&P.